It was the last set of stretching exercises when a group of people approached our side—Maxine’s team, to be exact. Their presence immediately sent a wave of energy through our team, as if their arrival signaled something bigger than just a simple practice game.
"Hey, guys! Are you up for a practice game with my team?" Maxine asked politely, her confident yet friendly tone making it hard to refuse.
"Yeah, we can do a practice game, Ate Max! Do you want us to group by year, or should we mix the teams?" Alysa, our team captain, responded, turning to the older girl for her decision.
"I think it would be better if we mix the teams," Maxine suggested, and everyone quickly agreed. The excited chatter of my teammates filled the space, but I remained quiet, lingering at the edge of the group.
My heart was pounding, my fingers twitching slightly as I tried to steady my breathing. There was no reason to be this nervous—I wasn’t doing anything wrong. But the truth was, my secret felt heavier with each passing second.
Sera, keep it cool. She doesn’t know. I repeated the words like a mantra in my head, trying to push away the overwhelming consciousness that threatened to take over.
Maxine had no idea that I was the girl she had been texting for almost a month now. The same girl who had kept her company through late-night conversations, the one who had laughed at her corny jokes and listened when she vented about school and training.
I risked a glance at her, and for a second, it felt like she was looking my way too. My breath hitched. Did she recognize me? No, impossible. She had never seen my face—only my words.
"Alright, let's form the teams!" Alysa’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I quickly turned away, pretending to be focused on the game.
Just a practice game, right? Nothing to worry about.
Except, with Maxine standing just a few feet away from me, I wasn’t sure I could keep up the act for long.
Sa kasamaang palad, Maxine and I were both assigned to Team 1. Napalunok ako habang tinititigan ang mga kahilera ko. Ang malas ko naman po ata, Lord, ngayon. Out of all the possible teams, why did I have to end up in the same one as her?
"Alright, Team 1, gather up!" sigaw ni Alysa, and I had no choice but to step forward and join the huddle.
I could feel Maxine’s presence just a few feet away, radiating the same easy confidence she always had. She was smiling, cracking jokes with our other teammates like it was just another normal practice game. Meanwhile, I was on the verge of losing my cool.
I tried to focus on the game plan, nodding along as our strategy was discussed. Pero kahit anong pilit kong wag siyang pansinin, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili kong lumingon sa kanya. She was right there—so close yet so unaware that I was the same person she had been pouring her late-night thoughts to through text.
"Uy, Sera, ikaw mag-receive sa first play ha?" one of my teammates nudged me.
"Ah—oo, sige," I answered, forcing myself to concentrate.
Just a game, I reminded myself. Just a practice game.
Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko—practice game pa lang ito, ha. Paano pa kaya kung totoong match na?
Nakatayo ako sa gilid ng court, pinipilit pakalmahin ang sarili habang inaayos ang elbow support ko kahit hindi naman talaga ito maluwag. Anything to keep my hands busy, anything to distract myself from the fact na nasa tabi ko lang si Maxine.
"Ready na?" Maxine’s voice was light, full of excitement, and for a split second, I almost forgot how nervous I was. Almost.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin at doon ko lang napansin na nakatingin siya sa akin, ngiting-ngiti. "Okay ka lang?" she asked, her brows slightly furrowed in concern.
Bigla akong nabilaukan sa sariling laway. "H-ha? Oo naman!" Napatawa ako, pero Diyos ko, bakit ang awkward ng tunog?
She chuckled. "Relax ka lang, Practice lang naman 'to. I'm Maxiene by the way" she stretched her hand agad ko naman iyong inabot. "I'm Serafine"
Easy for you to say.
She had no idea na siya ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ako makapag-relax.
"Team 1, positions!" sigaw ng isa naming kakampi, at buti na lang, dahil hindi ko na kinayang sagutin si Maxine.
Tumakbo ako sa pwesto ko sa backline, still trying to keep my composure. But the moment Maxine took her position beside me, flashing me one last encouraging smile before the game started, I knew one thing for sure—
Mahirap pala talagang mag-focus kapag ang katabi mo ay ang taong hindi mo alam kung iiwasan mo o lalapitan mo.
We won the game. Lumamang lang ang kabilang team sa first set, pero eventually, naipanalo naman namin ang second and third set. Well, what do we expect? Kateam namin si Maxine, ang captain ng varsity.
Pagod pero masaya kaming lahat habang nagkukuwentuhan at nag-aayos ng gamit. I was busy tying my shoelaces when a familiar voice caught me off guard.
"Nice game, Sera. Galing mo pala," Maxine said as she approached me, her tone light and casual, but the compliment hit me harder than I expected. "I wonder kung bakit hindi ka kasali sa varsity."
I felt my cheeks heat up. Oh no. Ang bilis naman yata ng compliment na ‘to.
"Huy, hindi aaah," I quickly replied, shaking my head. "Sakto lang. Tagal ko rin hindi nakapaglaro."
Maxine chuckled. "Hindi naman halata. Parang sanay ka pa rin."
I forced a small laugh, trying not to make a big deal out of it, but my heart was still racing. Lalo na nang bigla siyang tumingin sa akin na para bang may gusto siyang itanong.
"Di ba nasa circle of friends ka ni Jill?" she suddenly asked.
Patay.
I stiffened slightly but forced myself to nod. "Uh, oo. Bakit?"
She hesitated for a second, tilting her head as if debating whether to say something or not. Then, she shook her head and smiled. "Wala, wala."
Bago ko pa man siya matanong kung ano ‘yun, may tumawag na sa kanya mula sa bleachers.
"Max, tara na!"
She turned toward her friends, nodding before glancing back at me one last time.
"Una na ‘ko, Sera. Nice to meet you!" she said with a small wave before jogging toward them.
I barely managed to lift a hand to wave back. My brain was still buffering.
Isa lang ang masasabi ko.
Ang poganda niya!!
Pagkarating ko sa bahay, hindi pa man ako nakakapagpalit ng damit ay agad ko nang hinagilap ang phone ko. Kailangan kong i-share ‘to sa mga bruha kong kaibigan.
Serafine:Hoy mga boorikat, guess what kung ano nangyari sa araw ko?
Jill:KAMUSTA NAMAN
Amara:Nice match earlier. I was there watching you hahaha
Serafine:Wow ha, di mo man lang ako dinalhan ng gatorade or tubig ???
Sage:Wala ka naman daw binigay na pambili hahahaha
Amara:Nagkataon lang na nag-pass by akooo
Marga:So ano nangyari? Spill!!
Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago mag-type. I still couldn’t believe na nangyari ‘yun kanina.
Serafine:Nagkaroon kami ng practice match and guess whatttt? Kateam ko si Max!!! Tapos she introduced herself to meee—AS IN LUMAPIT AT NAG-HELLO. Tapos tinanong pa niya kung nasa circle of friends ako ni Jill. OMG, grabe yung kaba ko!
Jill:KILIG KA NAMAN EH DI BA CRUSH MO YUN HAHAAHAH
Serafine:Hoy last year pa ‘yun! Tapos na, hindi ko na siya crush!
Sage:Weh?? Haha, tapos ngayon, katextmate mo na?
Marga:In fairness ha, ang tagal niyo nang textmate, pero hindi ka pa rin niya kilala?
Amara:She was always looking at you earlier, haha.
Jill:Yieeee Sera!!!
I could practically hear them screaming through the screen. Napapikit na lang ako habang nilalabanan ang init sa mukha ko.
Serafine:Magsitigil kayo!! Naging crush ko lang naman siya last year kasi ang galing niya. Besides, happy crush lang ‘yon!
Sage:Suuuuuusus, ang tagal niyo na nga naglalandian sa chat eh!
Serafine:HINDI ‘YON LANDIAN! We are friends
Pinindot ko agad ang send bago pa ako makaisip ng ibang paraan para idepensa ang sarili ko. Pero kahit anong sabihin ko…
Nagre-replay sa utak ko ang ngiti ni Maxine, yung paraan ng pagtitig niya kanina, at yung casual pero nakakakilig niyang "Nice to meet you, Sera."
Oh no. Crush ko na ba siya ulit???
Later that night, as Sera tries to distract herself, Max messages her. A smile spreads across her face when she sees his name.
Max:Hiii Ms. Stranger, How was your day?
She smiles and quickly types her response.
Serafine:It was good but tiring. How about you, Max?
Max:It was tiring too but I enjoyed the game practice earlier.
Max continues typing, and Sera feels a little flutter inside her chest as she waits.
Max:I hope you'll watch my practice game sometime para makita mo ang mga moves ko na nakakabighani.
She chuckles at his playful confidence.
Serafine:Weh? Baka bangko ka lang buong game ha.
Max:Hoyyy, team captain ito noh!!
She can’t help but tease her back, enjoying the easy flow of their conversation.
Serafine:HAHAA edi ikaw na magaling
Max responds with sincerity.
Max:But seriously tho, I'm excited na mameet ka in person. I'm really hoping it will be sooner.
Sera can feel her heart race a little, even though she’s trying to remain casual. Her phone buzzes again.
Serafine:Just give me time Max. I'll promise i'll reveal myself soon para naman matahimik ka na kakaisip lol
Max’s playful response comes through next.
Max:Napaka daya mo kasi! Good night Ms. Stranger. It was nice talking with you after a tiring day. Somehow i can say na you are my happy pill. :))
Sera feels a rush of warmth at his words. .She looks at the screen, her heart beating a little faster than usual. Ano 'to Serafine?? ><
